The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-09-09
TENNESSEE WATERWAYS
THE WORK OF THE PAST YEAR
AND WHAT is NEEDED.

Lieut.. Barlow Submits His Annual Re-
port to the War $780,
600 Wanted for the Tennessee River
Above Chattanooga-Ope the Ca
nails Around the Shoals.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Sept s--Lieut. Col
j. w. Barlow of the Corps of Engineers, has
submitted to the War Department his
annual report on the river and harbor
improvements in Tennessee and neighboring
States
On the Tennessee River above Chatta-
nooga, the only work done during the
fiscal year was the repair of two of the
locks at Upper Half Moon Island, so as to
increase the depth of water over the shoals
The estimate for improving the upper river
during the next year is $4,000, which will
be expended in the repair and extension of
the dams already built, continuing channel
excavations, building dams, etc.
On the lower river below Chattanooga
the principal work done during the year
consisted in placing in position iron gates of
locks in the shoal creek aqueduct, and per-
manent dams of rubble masonry at Second
creek, Bluewater creek, Helltown and Four
Mile creek. 1t is expected that five drop
gates will be completed, and the entire lock-
age of this section finished by January next
An effort will be made to open the Rock
river shoals canal before the close of 1887 to
the extent of making it available for use of
the United States in the transportation of
supplies.
MUSSEL SHOALS CANAL.
In view of the early completion of the
Mussel shoals canal, it is deemed important
ifo1p of no do for hn
removal of the major obstructions above
and below the canal, the principal one of
which is Colbert shoals
An appropriation of S500,00 is requested
for the lNxt fiscal year, to be expended in
the improvement of Colbert shoals, Little
Mussel shoals, the sand bars at Bridgeport
and Guntersville, completing dams at Tus-
cumbia shoals, removing surface obstruc-
tlonS in the lower river, and making an in
strumental survey of the river.
On the Cumberland river, below Nash
vile, beyond the removal of snags little
work was done during the past fiscal year,
but work in the channel is now satisfactorily
progressing, with force of about fifty men.
An instrumental survey of the river below
Nashville is said to be very desirable to OBJ
tain data in view of the possible extension
of the lock and dam system. For the next
fiscal year an appropriation of $4,000 is
requested to clear the shoals, improve the
channel and make the survey.
CESSIoN OF LAND.
Above Nashville, in addition to the appli-
| cation to the State Legislature for ceSsion
of lands on which to erect locks, dams, etc.
work was done in the channel at Fourbush
| and Smith shoals, reducing the current and
| giving additional security to the passage of
| coal boats. The amount of the estimate
! for the next year is 100000
L.
mouth of Jellico, KY, it appears to be i'm
practicable to do any work until eleven
obstructive mill dams are bought, either by
voluntary agreement or by condemnation.
| Should Congress desire to continue this
improvement an appropriation of $40, 900
| will be necessary
The work on the Haiawasses river, Ten
nessee, consisted in the Improvement of the
channel and the removal of overhanging
trees, and the repair of dams at Magills
Island. An appropriation of S25, 900 is re-
quested for continuation of the work.
FRENCH BROAD RIVER.
The appropriation for French Broad
| river, Tennessee, came too late for use in
channel work until near the close of the
fiscal year, but some repair work was begun
in June. Thirty thousand dollars is asked
for continuation of this work
The same state of affairs prevails as re-
CARDS Clinch river, Tennessee, for the i'm
provement of which S24, 900 is asked for the
next fiscal year.
On the Caney Fork river a force is now
at work removing snags, building dams,
ETC., with good success. Ten thousand dol
lars is asked for continuation of the work.
Work was begun on the south fork of the
Cumberland river, Kentuky, in October
last which was only suspended during the
winter months and is now progressing at
Sloans shoals An appropriation of Sl5,-
600 is asked to continue the work below
DEVILS Jump removing reefs and building
| wing dams.
An appropriation of $4,000 in each case
is also suggested for the Improvement of
Duck river and the Little Tennessee river,
in TenneSSee